Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 October 2020
376. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Education the precise timeframe for the phasing out of religious education in schools; her views on achieving it in the lifetime of this Government; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31721/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere is no plan or time-frame for the phasing out of religious education in schools, at either primary or post primary level.
In the context of this question, it may be helpful to distinguish between Religious Education as an educational activity that deepens young people’s understanding of religions, whatever their background or beliefs, and Religious Instruction, understood as initiating or nurturing young people into a particular religious way of life (sometimes also referred to as faith formation or catechesis). It is not the aim of Religious Education to facilitate Religious Instruction or a type of learning that has as its aim nurturing into a particular religious tradition or set of beliefs.
Currently at Primary level, Religious Education is one of 12 subjects in the 1999 Primary School Curriculum. It holds a unique position in that the responsibility for providing a programme of RE rests with the patron bodies of individual schools and not the State. There are a number of patrons’ programmes within the primary school system reflecting the diversity of patronage. Some of these are denominational or religious in nature, emphasising the place of children’s faith, spiritual and moral development in their lives. Other patrons’ programmes are ethical in nature and emphasise fostering children’s understanding of ethics and values.
In its review and redevelopment of the primary curriculum, the NCCA is currently consulting with the public on a Draft Primary Curriculum (PC) Framework. The Framework aims to support the learning and development of children from different religious backgrounds and of non-religious backgrounds as we move into a new era in Irish education.
At post primary level, the NCCA-developed Religious Education Junior and Senior Cycle syllabuses are intended for students of all faith backgrounds and none. The content prescribed in the syllabuses is intended to ensure that students are exposed to a broad range of religious traditions and to the non-religious interpretation of life. They do not provide religious instruction in any particular religious or faith tradition.
The Department of Education does not require schools to include the NCCA-developed Religious Education specification at Junior or Senior Cycle syllabus as mandatory subjects on their curriculum. Accordingly, schools have discretion to determine if they provide the subject at all or if it is to be mandatory or optional for any particular class group or in any year.
The Department position on Religious Instruction at post-primary is as set out in circulars 13/2018 and 62/2018. These circulars are addressed to the management authorities of Community and ETB post-primary schools only. It includes Community Post Primary Schools where in addition to an Education and Training Board (ETB) the patronage is exercised by one or more catholic religious orders and/or a catholic diocese.
Religious instruction (non NCCA) can be provided in ETB and community schools, but they must be compliant with circulars 0013/2018 and 0062/2018.
Voluntary secondary schools can provide religious instruction in line with the ethos of the schools. However, if they provide Junior Cycle NCCA developed RE it must be delivered in the timetabled class periods without any religious instruction or worship of any religion forming any part of class activity. This means that any practice or material that would introduce religious instruction or worship cannot be used. Religious Education will be subject to inspection including its delivery according to this circular.
Where any school opts to teach a programme of religious instruction/faith formation that is rooted exclusively or almost exclusively in a particular religious tradition, parents must be advised of this and ‘the school must offer an alternative subject(s) for those who do not want religious instruction’. (Circular 0013/2018).
